Heineman vetoes $44 million in line items to trim proposed 2013-2015 budget

Published 4:51 PM CDT May 25, 2013

LINCOLN, Neb. -

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman issued about $44 million in line-item vetoes to trim the state Legislature’s proposed state biennium budget for the 2013-2015 fiscal years, according to a news release.

Heineman vetoed about $28 million in state and federal funding for a new Medicaid computer system, as well as a 70 percent increase in mass transit funds to increase road construction by $4 million.

Other vetoes include $3 million for the next two years for the University of Nebraska’s College of Nursing building in Lincoln, $1.4 million in general funds for the Nebraska History Museum renovations and $544,000 in building improvements for Capitol Commission.

Heineman also made several line-item reductions to several decisions from the Legislature.

The governor’s office also indicated the budget includes a tuition freeze for the University of Nebraska and Nebraska state colleges.

State aid to education and special education will increase from $852 million to about $940 million in the 2015 fiscal year.

“Education is the great equalizer and education is one of our state’s top priorities,” Heineman said.